Bruno's to Belle: Timeline of a Birmingham-based grocer

Bruno's and city officials cut the ribbon on a Homewood Bruno's store in 1965. (FILE)

The company that started as Bruno’s 80 years ago and now has remnants owned by Belle Foods went from an ownership with a long and enduring shelf life to a series of perishable and uncertain custodians of the brand.

1995: Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. buys the firm for $1.1 billion, after several years of flat sales.

1998: Unable to pay down debt from the acquisition, Bruno's files for bankruptcy under owner KKR.

2000: Bruno's emerges from bankruptcy debt-free with 152 stores, spends $48 million on 29 store renovations. Later that year, the company buys 12 southwest Alabama Delchamps stores from bankrupt Jitney Jungle Inc., part of a purchase of 19 stores for $11.25 million.

July 1, 2013: Belle Foods files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing more than $42 million in debt. C&S Wholesale Grocers files notification with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs it may have to close its Birmingham warehouse, eliminating 203 jobs if it loses Belle Foods as its primary customer.